That noise you hear? Another Thomas HR / Shot puts A's up for good on way to 3-game sweep

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Oakland's Jay Payton comes in to score a run as the ball gets away from Chicago's catcher, A.J. Pierzynksi in the bottom of the sixth inning on a Mark Ellis sacrifice fly. The Oakland Athletics played the Chicago White Sox at McAfee Coliseum on Sunday, September 17, 2006. The Athletics beat the Sox 5-4, sweeping the series. Photo by Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle
Photo taken on 9/17/06, in Oakland, Ca, USA
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Oakland's Jay Payton comes in to score a run as the ball gets away from Chicago's catcher, A.J. Pierzynksi in the bottom of the sixth inning on a Mark Ellis sacrifice fly. The Oakland ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez

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ATHLETICS18_004_CAG.JPG
Oakland's Jay Payton comes in to score a run as the ball gets away from Chicago's catcher, A.J. Pierzynksi in the bottom of the sixth inning on a Mark Ellis sacrifice fly. The Oakland Athletics played the Chicago White Sox at McAfee Coliseum on Sunday, September 17, 2006. The Athletics beat the Sox 5-4, sweeping the series. Photo by Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle
Photo taken on 9/17/06, in Oakland, Ca, USA
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ATHLETICS18_004_CAG.JPG
Oakland's Jay Payton comes in to score a run as the ball gets away from Chicago's catcher, A.J. Pierzynksi in the bottom of the sixth inning on a Mark Ellis sacrifice fly. The Oakland ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez

That noise you hear? Another Thomas HR / Shot puts A's up for good on way to 3-game sweep

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Frank Thomas is making it look easy right now, as if he can clobber homers at will, especially in the biggest moments.

The A's designated hitter -- the main focus of the three-game series against his former team, the White Sox -- wasn't even trying to hit the ball out Sunday, however. He did so anyway, with a three-run shot off ex-teammate Jose Contreras in the fourth inning that put Oakland ahead and plunged Thomas deeper in the MVP debate.

The A's led the rest of the way in winning 5-4 to complete a three-game sweep of the defending world champions at the Coliseum.

"The big difference between winning and losing was Frank," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said in summing up the series.

The victory, combined with the Angels' loss to Texas, solidified Oakland's stamp on the AL West. The A's have a seven-game lead with 14 games remaining (the Angels have 12 left), and their magic number has shrunk to seven.

"We've got a chance to wrap up the division," Thomas said. "It's time to play right now. It's our division to win."

Thomas drove in four runs the previous day to power Oakland's win, with a two-run homer mixed in. On Sunday, he came up with two on and one out and first base open after Mark Kotsay's double, and the White Sox didn't pitch around him, despite the fact that Thomas is leading the majors in homers and RBIs this month.

Thomas didn't second guess the decision to go after him, because Contreras is tough on right-handed hitters. Thomas was 1-for-8 with three strikeouts lifetime against him, including a first-inning strikeout Sunday.

"He dominates right-handers," Thomas said.

With the count full, Thomas fouled off a tough slider. Then he got a fastball inside -- and knocked it over the American League scoreboard in left.

"I was just hoping I got a fastball instead of that nasty split. I think they thought I was sitting on the nasty split there." Thomas said. "I wasn't trying to drive it out of the ballpark, I was just trying to get the run home. When (Contreras) buries it inside, it's hard to get your hands through, so I just tired to be short and quick. ... I really didn't think I got it, but I stayed through it."

That earned Thomas his second curtain call at the Coliseum in the past month, something he called "awesome. I feel at home. It's special. I love it."

For the second day in a row, the MVP buzz around Thomas picked up. A's starter Esteban Loaiza, who plastered giveaway Thomas masks up and down both sides of his locker, wandered by reporters and said, "He's my MVP" with a smile, and even the opposition agreed that Thomas has made himself a legit candidate.

"Yeah, why not?" White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "With his numbers, look at what he's done for this team. Look at where Oakland is, they have a great chance to go to the playoffs. Without a doubt, I think Frank should be included in the MVP race. It comes down to how many hits and when you get them. He's gotten them at big times and he's gotten a lot of them."

Chicago didn't pick up Thomas' option for this season, which wasn't a surprise considering his recurring ankle problems the past two years, but he was unhappy with how the decision was handled and he was hurt when White Sox general manager Kenny Williams slammed him this spring.

Even so, Thomas has tried to downplay the revenge-is-sweet angle against the White Sox the past few days, and Sunday he said, "I'm not going to cry over spilt milk. I'm proud about what I did for that organization for 16 years, and I'm happy to be in Oakland and giving this organization what I've been giving them."

He's equally restrained about the MVP chatter, saying only, "I've stayed away from that. I'm shocked to hear it. It's an honor, but I just want to win. It feels good to play for something."

Thomas wasn't the whole show Sunday; Jason Kendall had two hits and scored twice, Milton Bradley blooped an 0-2 pitch from Contreras the opposite way in the fifth to drive in another run and Mark Ellis completed the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the sixth. But with 38 homers and 105 RBIs, Thomas is making the most noise.

"It seems in a situation where we need a big hit, more than likely he's going to come through," Kotsay said. "Frank's stepped up for us all season and done a tremendous job."